Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Educational dropout is one of the problems of educational system. The educational drop-out prevention and its complications require recognition of the probability risk factors. So, this study is carried out in order to assess the indexes of educational drop-out and its related factors in alunmi of paramedical faculty of Kashan medical University, Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on the entire alunmi from 1990-2003 (n=1439). The questionnaire including probability related factors and the indexes of educational drop-out (probation, unacceptable total average, lesson repeating, major changing, withdrawing, ejection from university, education leaving and delay in graduating) was used. FINDINGS: Prevalence of probation, unacceptable total average and delay in graduating were 9.2 (n=133), 14.5 (n=209), and 14.1 (n=203), respectively. The utmost probation frequency was related to first and then second semester. Delay duration was only one semester in 152 (10.56). 413 (28.7) had repeated lesson that 227 (15.8) had repeated only one lesson. Prevalence of major changing, withdrawing, ejection from university and education leaving were 2 (n=29), 0.9 (n=13), 0.4 (n=6), and 0.6 (n=9), respectively. There was an association between demographic data, prior educational status, and admission criteria with academic drop-out. CONCLUSION: With attention to the considerable prevalence of educational drop-out and its risk factors, diagnosing and supporting of the vulnerable students is a must.